Elijah Wood, known for playing Frodo Baggins in The Lord of the Rings trilogy, recently shared that his salary from the films wasn’t as big as many fans might think. While the movies earned billions worldwide, the actors weren’t paid enough to “rest easy for the rest of your life,” according to Wood. However, he still considers working on the films one of the best experiences of his life.
Why Didn’t the Actors Earn More?
The Lord of the Rings films were a huge financial risk when production began in 1999. Director Peter Jackson and New Line Cinema chose to film all three movies back to back, a rare decision in Hollywood at the time. This meant that actors had to sign contracts covering all three films before they knew how successful they would be. Unlike other major franchises where actors can renegotiate for higher pay between sequels, Lord of the Rings stars were locked into their original salaries.
The Films Became a Global Phenomenon
Despite these financial risks, The Lord of the Rings trilogy became one of the most successful franchises in movie history. The three films—The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King—earned a combined $2.9 billion at the box office.
Still, the cast didn’t see massive financial rewards. But Wood doesn’t seem to mind. He emphasized that while the pay wasn’t huge, being part of such an iconic project was a life-changing experience.
Other Stars Also Received Modest Salaries
Wood isn’t the only Lord of the Rings actor to mention the lower-than-expected salaries. Cate Blanchett, who played Galadriel, previously revealed that she wasn’t paid much for her role. When asked if the films were her biggest payday, she laughed and said, “Are you kidding me? No, no one got paid anything to do that movie.”
Orlando Bloom, who played Legolas, also discussed his paycheck in a 2019 interview. He revealed that he was paid only $175,000 for his role, a surprisingly low amount for a major blockbuster. However, like Wood, he had no regrets, calling the opportunity “the greatest gift of my life.”
A Legacy Beyond Money
Despite the relatively modest earnings, the cast remains proud of their involvement in The Lord of the Rings. Wood stated that the films are a lasting part of his life and career. He stressed that his comments about pay were not meant with bitterness, but simply as an explanation of how the deals were structured.
While the films made billions, the actors walked away with something even more valuable—immortality in cinematic history.